Wyoming wrestler selected as national recipient of NFHS National High School Spirit of Sport award
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by Bruce Howard
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (March 25, 2009) - Dakota Dana, a student-athlete at Star Valley High School in Afton, Wyoming, has been selected the 2009 national recipient of the "National High School Spirit of Sport Award" by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
The "National High School Spirit of Sport Award" was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics.
Dakota is one of the top wrestlers on the Star Valley wrestling team, which comes as no surprise to the community. His father, who grew up in the same town, also was an outstanding wrestler for the school. Dakota's family was always there to support him, and rarely missed any of his matches.
On the way back from a tournament in Riverton, Wyoming, in February 2008, the Dana family vehicle was hit coming down a mountain by a semitrailer truck that had lost control. Dakota's parents and older brother Scott were in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Dakota's mother was killed on impact, and his father died several weeks later in the hospital. His brother was bedridden for several months, but is learning to walk again after the accident.
Although it is now up to Dakota to keep up the family farm and take on other responsibilities beyond his years, he also has set an example to his team. Dakota continues to participate in football and wrestling and never misses practices or tournaments, during the season or out of season. Through his relationships with his teammates and coaches, Dakota has set an outstanding example of how the spirit of sport has truly helped him overcome devastating tragedies.
In addition to the selection of Dakota as the national winner, the NFHS National High School Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee chose seven other individuals for section awards. Following are the 2009 National High School Spirit of Sport section winners:
Section 1 - James Orrigo, student-athlete, Reading (Massachusetts) Austin Preparatory School
Section 2 - The 2008 Berwick varsity baseball team, Berwick(Pennsylvania) High School
Section 3 - Lonny Schraeder, coach, Hattiesburg (Mississippi) Oak Grove High School
Section 4 - Amy Brechon, student-athlete, Belvidere (Illinois) North High School
Section 5 - Derek Johnson, student-athlete, Aberdeen (South Dakota) Central High School
Section 6 - Steve Hohenberger, coach, Irving (Texas) Nimitz High School
Section 7 - Heather Meyer, student-athlete, Blanding (Utah) San Juan High School
Section 8 - Dakota Dana, student-athlete, Afton (Wyoming) Star Valley High School
Nominations for this award were generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS National High School Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee composed of state association staff members. While the national winner will be recognized June 30 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Chicago, the section winners will be recognized within their respective states and will receive awards before the end of the current school year.
The "National High School Spirit of Sport Award" was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics.
Dakota is one of the top wrestlers on the Star Valley wrestling team, which comes as no surprise to the community. His father, who grew up in the same town, also was an outstanding wrestler for the school. Dakota's family was always there to support him, and rarely missed any of his matches.
On the way back from a tournament in Riverton, Wyoming, in February 2008, the Dana family vehicle was hit coming down a mountain by a semitrailer truck that had lost control. Dakota's parents and older brother Scott were in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Dakota's mother was killed on impact, and his father died several weeks later in the hospital. His brother was bedridden for several months, but is learning to walk again after the accident.
Although it is now up to Dakota to keep up the family farm and take on other responsibilities beyond his years, he also has set an example to his team. Dakota continues to participate in football and wrestling and never misses practices or tournaments, during the season or out of season. Through his relationships with his teammates and coaches, Dakota has set an outstanding example of how the spirit of sport has truly helped him overcome devastating tragedies.
In addition to the selection of Dakota as the national winner, the NFHS National High School Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee chose seven other individuals for section awards. Following are the 2009 National High School Spirit of Sport section winners:
Section 1 - James Orrigo, student-athlete, Reading (Massachusetts) Austin Preparatory School
Section 2 - The 2008 Berwick varsity baseball team, Berwick(Pennsylvania) High School
Section 3 - Lonny Schraeder, coach, Hattiesburg (Mississippi) Oak Grove High School
Section 4 - Amy Brechon, student-athlete, Belvidere (Illinois) North High School
Section 5 - Derek Johnson, student-athlete, Aberdeen (South Dakota) Central High School
Section 6 - Steve Hohenberger, coach, Irving (Texas) Nimitz High School
Section 7 - Heather Meyer, student-athlete, Blanding (Utah) San Juan High School
Section 8 - Dakota Dana, student-athlete, Afton (Wyoming) Star Valley High School
Nominations for this award were generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS National High School Spirit of Sport Award Selection Committee composed of state association staff members. While the national winner will be recognized June 30 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Chicago, the section winners will be recognized within their respective states and will receive awards before the end of the current school year.
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